Lessons Learned on the Road to Cedar City

So I know this states that it was right after Easter but I'm finally getting around to posting it... work with me :)

April 2010:

Last weekend when driving back to Cedar City after a lovely Easter weekend, I realized that it would be the last official drive I would be making down south for school. It was so weird to think that after 5 years of life in Cedar City that this was it. It was on that momentous drive that I decided to make a list of all of the things I've learned while driving the 3 1/2 hour drive between my lovely home in West Valley and my collegiate home in Cedar City. What follows is that said list and random pictures that have been taken over the years on the drive.

Lessons Learned on the Drive to/from Cedar City

1. Just because the sky ahead looks blue doesn't mean that a blizzard isn't secretly waiting in the pass by Cove Fort. No matter what time of year.
   
2. 3 hours passes very quickly when you talk to friends that you haven't seen in a long while
   
3. There is a small hill just outside of Fillmore that looks like the hill on which Edoras sits in Lord of the Rings
4. Finding people/rides off the university ride board just isn't worth the awkwardness
5. Inadvertently there will always be at least one car that you are stuck with the whole trip who drives fast enough to get in front of you only to slow down so you have to get in front of them. Be prepared for a 250 mile game of messed up tag
6. When you have friends in the car it's helpful to keep them awake as they may start awake thereby surprising you and causing you to swerve across lanes.
7. No matter what anyone says - if your car is making funny noises do NOT try to make the long drive. It will only end in despair
8. When all you're waiting on to leave is one person who can't leave for 2 hours past anyone else is it really worth the gas money? (ps the answer is usually yes!)
9. If the weather report says the roads are bad/good it isn't necessarily true
10. Driving after 11pm is not recommended... unless you're not the one driving then it's highly entertaining!
11. Places to check in with home - Beaver, Fillmore, and Nephi
12. Good places to take a break - Scipio - the gas station with the DQ attached (their hand dryers in the bathroom are amazing!) and Fillmore's Maverick Gas Station (they have good bread)
13. Loud, retro pop music makes time pass quickly
14. Dust storms are likely to rise up next to Fillmore and Meadow which will result in a long side detour through Kanosh
15. Contrary to popular belief, as long as you're heading north on I15 in Provo - you'll be just fine during rush hour
16. When traveling through Beaver it is best to go the actual limit - the cops there are pretty strict... and bored
17. Having a drink and snacks to munch on is a VERY good idea
18. If you stop in Scipio do NOT buy food from DQ... that is unless you don't care if you get to your destination at a halfway decent time
    

And Finally
19. No matter what time of day or what direction you are going, you WILL be faced with the same tough situation before exiting into Cedar City. A semi will be in front of you that is going at such an awkward speed that you have to decide whether or not it's worth it to zoom in front of it and get back over before the exit or slow down to 50 mph and wait it out.


Winter Driving - Beautiful!



Example of a person falling asleep :)




The clouds were wicked awesome that day!



Another example :)



Side note - never seran wrap a friend's car - payback will happen!



Glad I wasn't going north that day...



Multi-tasking



And finally - my awesome car disaster. Note: This was right after it had happened. Everyone thought it was funny/cool but note the look of distress on my face. Yeah. That's pretty genuine horror.